In the 1950s, Hostess, the owner, began cranking up advertising for it. Commercials were placed on the very popular "Howdy Doody" show. Highland Park, Illinois, native Steve Ettinger, who wrote the book "Twinkie, Deconstructed" and where most of this article's information derives, said one of his favorite commercials was where the Twinkie was called a "great nutritional snack cake with potential to grow on."
Twinkies have played a big role in American pop culture all along. TV's Archie Bunker got very upset with his wife, Edith, when she forgot to pack one in his lunch. The "Twinkie Defense" was coined in 1978 when an attorney for a suspect in a double murder in San Francisco claimed his client's junk food consumption was partly to blame.
I remember Twinkies selling out at all area stores shortly after Hostess announced they were going out of business.
A Twinkie By Any Other Name. --DaCoot
Showing posts with label Twinkies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Twinkies. Show all posts
Saturday, December 21, 2013
A "Twinkie" in Her Eye-- Twinkies-- Part 2: Two to Three Day Shelf Life
The really tasty new cakes were originally made with milk and eggs and only had a shelf life of two or three days.
Postwar (WWII) America was pushing for greater consumer convenience and had a huge chemical surplus left over from that war. Scientists began finding new chemical uses, including something called polysorbate 60. This petroleum-based egg yolk substitute included a toxic gas used to thicken paint and rocket fuel. It also became a Twinkie ingredient.
Later Twinkies included artificial butter flavor, high-fructose corn syrup, calcium sulfate and sodium stearoyl lactylate, eventually 40 ingredients. (Suddenly, I no-longer crave one.)
Maybe, I Don't Want One Anymore. --Cooter
Postwar (WWII) America was pushing for greater consumer convenience and had a huge chemical surplus left over from that war. Scientists began finding new chemical uses, including something called polysorbate 60. This petroleum-based egg yolk substitute included a toxic gas used to thicken paint and rocket fuel. It also became a Twinkie ingredient.
Later Twinkies included artificial butter flavor, high-fructose corn syrup, calcium sulfate and sodium stearoyl lactylate, eventually 40 ingredients. (Suddenly, I no-longer crave one.)
Maybe, I Don't Want One Anymore. --Cooter
Friday, December 20, 2013
A "Twinkie" in Her Eye-- Twinkies-- Part 1: Who Invented Them?
From the Nov. 18, 2012, Chicago Tribune "Expiration date for Twinkie?" by Joseph Ruzich and Ted Gregory.
Of course, this article came out when the country was facing the loss of Twinkies, but, they're back now.
The Twinkie was born on April 6, 1930, in Illinois, at the Continental Baking Company in River Forest. Plant manager James Dewar came up with the recipe in his quest to create a two-for-a-nickle snack, reportedly coming up with the name after passing a billboard for Twinkle Toe Shoes.
Dewar was looking for a way to use shortcake pans that had been used seasonably for a strawberry shortcake knock-off called Little Shortbread Fingers.
Dewar said it was "the best darn-tootin' idea I ever had."
He related that he ate at least three Twinkies with a glass of milk every night before he went to bed.
Good Calories? --Cooter
Of course, this article came out when the country was facing the loss of Twinkies, but, they're back now.
The Twinkie was born on April 6, 1930, in Illinois, at the Continental Baking Company in River Forest. Plant manager James Dewar came up with the recipe in his quest to create a two-for-a-nickle snack, reportedly coming up with the name after passing a billboard for Twinkle Toe Shoes.
Dewar was looking for a way to use shortcake pans that had been used seasonably for a strawberry shortcake knock-off called Little Shortbread Fingers.
Dewar said it was "the best darn-tootin' idea I ever had."
He related that he ate at least three Twinkies with a glass of milk every night before he went to bed.
Good Calories? --Cooter
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Facts About Twinkies
** 500 million are baked each year.
** Each takes 10 minutes to bake.
** Each has 150 calories
** Their shelf life is 28 days (not forever as some suggest.)
Me and Woody, Right Zombieland? --DaCoot
** Each takes 10 minutes to bake.
** Each has 150 calories
** Their shelf life is 28 days (not forever as some suggest.)
Me and Woody, Right Zombieland? --DaCoot
The Twinkie: A Chicago Invention
From the November 16, 2012, Chicago Sun-Times "Twinkie Maker Toast?" by Becky Schlikerman.
Well, with all the news about the Hostess Company closing down because of a strike (mainly a way to force worker concessions even as the CEO and top management get huge pay increases).
But, here is a short history of the Twinkie.
The Twinkie was born April 6, 1930, in Schiller Park when Continental Baking Co. bakery manager James Dewar created it. He was looking for ways to put unused shortcake pans to use.
Usually, shortcake "fingers" were filled with strawberries, but they were out of season, so he filed them with banana cream and it became a big success at two for a nickel. The Great Depression made them even more popular as an affordable treat.
The filling was changed to vanilla cream when bananas became scarce during World War II.
Lip-Smacking Good. --Cooter
Well, with all the news about the Hostess Company closing down because of a strike (mainly a way to force worker concessions even as the CEO and top management get huge pay increases).
But, here is a short history of the Twinkie.
The Twinkie was born April 6, 1930, in Schiller Park when Continental Baking Co. bakery manager James Dewar created it. He was looking for ways to put unused shortcake pans to use.
Usually, shortcake "fingers" were filled with strawberries, but they were out of season, so he filed them with banana cream and it became a big success at two for a nickel. The Great Depression made them even more popular as an affordable treat.
The filling was changed to vanilla cream when bananas became scarce during World War II.
Lip-Smacking Good. --Cooter
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Some More on Twinkies
April 6th Chicago Tribune.
A happy 80th birthday to Twinkies.
The Tribune had a graphic on Twinkie's Place in Pop Culture which I found of interest.
1950s-- Twinkies are hawked to children on the popular "Howdy Doody Show." I don't remember that, but I don't remember all that much from the show either.
1960s-- Archie Bunker gets a Twinkie in his lunchbox every day in "All in the Family."
1978-- The girls in "Grease" talk about Twinkies and wine at their slumber party.
1984-- "Ghostbusters" introduces the "big Twinkie" metaphor. I don't have any idea what this means.
1990-- The Blue Man Group feasts on Twinkies and then regurgitates. Never saw them.
1994-- Apu demonstrates "You cannot hurt the Twinkie" on "the Simpsons" as the food regains its form. Didn't see this episode.
2009-- A quest for Twinkies in Zombieland" puts Woody Harrelson up against the undead. Now this was very funny. Imagine risking your life for a Twinkie.
But, Then Again.... --DaCoot
A happy 80th birthday to Twinkies.
The Tribune had a graphic on Twinkie's Place in Pop Culture which I found of interest.
1950s-- Twinkies are hawked to children on the popular "Howdy Doody Show." I don't remember that, but I don't remember all that much from the show either.
1960s-- Archie Bunker gets a Twinkie in his lunchbox every day in "All in the Family."
1978-- The girls in "Grease" talk about Twinkies and wine at their slumber party.
1984-- "Ghostbusters" introduces the "big Twinkie" metaphor. I don't have any idea what this means.
1990-- The Blue Man Group feasts on Twinkies and then regurgitates. Never saw them.
1994-- Apu demonstrates "You cannot hurt the Twinkie" on "the Simpsons" as the food regains its form. Didn't see this episode.
2009-- A quest for Twinkies in Zombieland" puts Woody Harrelson up against the undead. Now this was very funny. Imagine risking your life for a Twinkie.
But, Then Again.... --DaCoot
Good Stuff Turning 60 and 80
DUNKIN' DONUTS
From the March 25th Chicago Tribune said that one of my favorite places, Dunkin' Donuts turned 60. It was founded in Massachusetts back in 1950 by Bill Rosenberg. Back then, Mr. Donut was a major competitor, a problem he solved by buying the company. They also managed to ward off that growth spurt of Krispy Kreme a few years back.
Today, there are over 6,500 franchises in the US, but only 200 west of the Mississippi River.
Around here, there seems to be one in every town.
TWINKIES
Hostess Twinkies turns 80 today according to today's Chicago Tribune. It was conceived right here in Chicago by bakery manager James Dewar and Hostess cranks out over 500 million of the sift, spongy cakes every year.
One packet contains two of the cream-filled treats, along with 300 guilt-free calories. It just tastes s-s-s-s-o-o-o-o- good!!
Think I'll Go Upstairs and Scrounge Through the Pantry for Something. --Cooter
From the March 25th Chicago Tribune said that one of my favorite places, Dunkin' Donuts turned 60. It was founded in Massachusetts back in 1950 by Bill Rosenberg. Back then, Mr. Donut was a major competitor, a problem he solved by buying the company. They also managed to ward off that growth spurt of Krispy Kreme a few years back.
Today, there are over 6,500 franchises in the US, but only 200 west of the Mississippi River.
Around here, there seems to be one in every town.
TWINKIES
Hostess Twinkies turns 80 today according to today's Chicago Tribune. It was conceived right here in Chicago by bakery manager James Dewar and Hostess cranks out over 500 million of the sift, spongy cakes every year.
One packet contains two of the cream-filled treats, along with 300 guilt-free calories. It just tastes s-s-s-s-o-o-o-o- good!!
Think I'll Go Upstairs and Scrounge Through the Pantry for Something. --Cooter
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